Windows Vista Media Center owners – have you noticed something interesting on your Media Center UI recently? If you haven’t checked in a few days.. then start it up and look around.

I first noticed this last night on my main HTPC unit in the living room. The “TV+Movies” section had an additional option to the left of “Recorded TV” called “more TV”.

I swear.. this wasn’t here before!

Hmm.. curious. Under the “Music” section, there was also a new option called “more music”. HMMMM…

Scroll up to “Pictures + Video”, and guess what? Anoher new option to the left called “more pictures”. Are you beginning to see a trend here?

Yep.. the third party add-ins are finally here (as they were curiously removed for the business launch of Windows Vista) for Media Center – just in time for the consumer launch of Vista at the end of the month. There are some familiar faces, and some new ones too.

Finally, astute MCE users noticed a few weeks ago that a new menu option appeared on the main menu. It was labeled “Sports” and as you guessed it, it offered a slew of sports related activities.

Stay tuned as I’ll be writing up a short review of all of these new features shortly.

BTW – here’s our initial look at Media Center under Windows Vista final.

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